Regional District of Nanaimo Completes Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans
Posted in: News Item
Date Posted: 2022-06-29
Organization Name: Regional District of Nanaimo
Location: Nanaimo
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has completed new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans (CWRPs) for each of the seven Electoral Areas within the RDN. The CWRPs assess the risk and impact of wildfires and make recommendations within the seven FireSmartTM disciplines to reduce the wildfire hazard. The plans cost $156,931 to develop and were fully funded by a Community Resiliency Investment FireSmartTM grant from the Government of British Columbia. The Development of Fuel Management Prescriptions for the 707 Community Park on Gabriola Island and the RDN Arboretum property (formerly the H.R. MacMillan Grant Ainscough Arboretum) were also covered by the grant and presented for information at the February 3, 2022, Electoral Area Services Committee meeting.
“The new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans are a great asset to the RDN,” said Vanessa Craig, RDN Vice Chair and Fire Services Advisory Committee Chair. “The plans provide a clearer picture of wildfire risk including anticipated changes due to climate change, and outlines the tools and resources needed to mitigate and respond to increased fire risks across our region over the long term.”
Multiple community stakeholder groups were reached out to while developing the plans including First Nation communities, municipal partners, electoral area fire departments, BC Wildfire, Islands Trust and others. This collaboration ensured that the plans reflect local knowledge and expertise and include achievable actions that can be implemented under a common vision to reduce the intensity and impacts of wildfires and increase community resiliency.
Efficiencies were achieved by developing the new Electoral Area CWRPs under one regional project, thereby avoiding duplication of efforts, and completing the Fuel Management Prescriptions in the same funding stream. The CWRPs will be used to help shape community plans, promote bylaws, identify high priority areas, and facilitate discussions and cooperation among stakeholders to improve community safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
For more information on the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans and FireSmart activities in the RDN, visit getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-firesmart and rdn.bc.ca/fire-services. For an interactive map of the Fire Protection Service Areas, visit rdn.bc.ca/gis-mapping.